Over 1,100 business leaders and decision-makers, in addition to 300 French companies, will take part in the 1st edition of the Tunisia -France Business Forum to be held on February 1, 2018, at the Convention Centre in Tunis, under the theme "Succeeding together, today and tomorrow".

In a statement to TAP, Hassen Zargouni, commissioner of the event, said the forum, organised on the occasion of French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Tunisia (January 31 and February 1, 2018), is intended to be a place for meeting of business operators, company managers and decision-makers from both shores of the Mediterranean, to foster the bonds of friendship, fraternity and trust.

The forum is also designed to build a common approach to meet the future challenges, particularly in the technology and governance sectors, to pave the way for more trade, more investment and more tourism activities, he added.

Zargouni said the forum will be an opportunity to present the synergies and stories of Tunisian and French companies that have succeeded in a win-win partnership.

He added that investment ideas will be presented on the occasion, particularly in the areas of green energy, higher education, new technologies and agro-food industries.

1,400 companies with French shareholding are active in Tunisia, employing about 138 thousand people.

Tunisian-French relations are strategic and bilateral cooperation is distinguished by its depth and diversity, Zargouni noted, recalling that France is the first partner, the top investor and also the first customer of the country.